Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 15

2 Son of man, What is the vine-tree more then any tree, or then a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

The house of Israel is often compared to a Vine, which when barren or fruitless, is very contemptible and unprofitable. This the Prophet minds them of to humble them, and awaken them to fruitfulness, will you boast your selves of this.

One single branch of a tree in the Forest, is of more use and worth then the whole Vine Tree is, except for its Fruit.

3 Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or, will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?

Is there one good piece of Timber in the whole Vine fit for building a house, or ship, as there is in the Oak, Elm or other wild Forest Trees? Will it furnish the Husbandman, or Soldier, or Seaman with fit materials for their use, in peace, war, or sea?

Will it afford a pin to▪ drive into a wall or post, on which you may safely fasten any weight? It is so weak, that 'tis useless as to this.

4 Behold, it is cast into the fire for fewel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burnt: is it meet for any work?

When for its barrenness tis cut down tis fit onely to be burnt.

Nor is it a choice fewel neither, a little branch of a tree of the Forest is better and affords more fewel.

Marginal references: John 15.6.; Heb. will it prosper.

6 ¶ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, as the vine-tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fewel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Either thus when the Vine is, as the wild Trees of the Forest, barren and fruitless is less worth then the Forest tree, so are you, O House of Israel in my account; Or else as trees of the Forest are for the fire in all the less valuable parts of them, so are all the branches and body of the barren Vine, which you are oh Ierusalemites.

Designed and doomed for food to the fire.

For by their sins they have kindled a fire, which shall burn every barren branch in the degenerate and fruitless Vine.

7 And I will set my face against them: they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.

I will look upon them with an angry and displeased countenance, which is enough to destroy them, or to fill them with terrours. This phrase is chap. 14.8. which see, my wrath shall kindle a fire among them.

Either shift themselves, and fly from one evil which as fire consumed them, or else be cast by others, by their Enemies, out of one evil into another, from a less which troubled them to a greater which devours them, 1 Kings 19.17. Ier. 48.43, 44. Amos 5.19.

You that are in Babylon and hear what mischiefs are heaped on Ierusalem one after another, shall know tis my anger and fury poured out upon them.

Marginal references: Lev. 17.10.

8 And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, p saith the Lord GOD.

Chap. 6.14. see.

Not one single trespass, but they have been so perpetually trespassing that it seemed a continued act, and all done with greatest aggravation.

Marginal references: Heb. a desolation.; Heb. trespassed a trespass.